Rubber footwear



Dec, 3, 1935. LHOLLIER 2,023,274

RUBBER FOOTWEAR Filed May 22, 1954 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,023,274 7 RUBBER FOOTWEAR Application May 22, 1934, Serial No. 726,888

4 Claims.

This invention relates to rubber footwear, especially footwear of the overshoe and sandal types.

In such footwear as heretofore constructed, especially in the type in which the throat of the upper comes well up on the instep, inconvenience and difficulty often have been encountered in putting the shoe on the foot owing to the ease with which the throat has folded under in putting the shoe on the foot. Also, owing to the limpness of the material which has usually been used for such footwear the throat has usually sagged inward when off the foot and has required some manipulation to position it properly for putting it on the foot.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide improved footwear in which the above-discussed objections are overcome, to provide an improved construction which is more convenient to put on the foot, and to provide at the same time for lightness in weight and attractiveness in appearance.

These and further objects will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away and in section, of a shoe constructed according to and embodying the invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of the shoe.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The rubber overshoe, chosen for illustration, comprises an outer layer of rubber l and preferably a stretchable lining I I. An elastic trimming strip I2 may be provided at the top margin of the shoe upper.

In order to facilitate putting on the shoe without curling under of the throat portion l3 of the shoe and to prevent sagging of the throat portion, provision is made for providing stiffness in this portion, without, however,lessening the flexibility or stretchability of the portions of the shoe upper surrounding the throat, especially the top portion I4 of the upper and the vamp portion l5.

To this end a stiffener l6 of such size and shape as to reinforce the throat portion without extending to the adjacent portions of the shoe upper is built in the throat portion between the lining II and the outer layer of rubber l0 as a, permanent part of the shoe. The stiffener is preferably curved to correspond to the shape of theinstep of the foot and has beveled margins and is of sufficient thinness so that its presence is hardly noticeable except upon close inspection.

It may be formed of any suitable material, for example, compressed fiber, stiff rubber or other composition with or without fiber in it, or even light metal. Preferably it is disposed so as to stiffen the throat up to and including the margin of the opening so that curling under of the 10 throat is entirely prevented.

The location of the stiffener and the limited area over which it extends are such as not to restrict the operation of stretching the top portion of the shoe on the vamp in putting the shoe l5 on the foot, while at the same time the throat portion of the shoe is effectively stiffened.

I claim:

1. An article of footwear comprising a stretchable rubber upper of oxford height having its throat portion stiffened over an area vertically extensive enough to. prevent inward falling of the wall and laterally so limited as not to lessen materially the stretchability of the top portion of the upper, the area engaged by said stiffener terminating at the margin of the throat.

2. An article of footwear comprising a stretchable rubber upper or oxford height having in its throat portion beneath its outer surface a stiffener of such height and laterally of such limited extent as to stiffen the throat up to and including its upper margin but not to lessen materially the stretchability of the top portion of the upper.

3. An article of footwear comprising a stretchable rubber upper of oxford height having in its throat portion beneath its outer surface a stiff-- ener of such height and laterally of such limited extent as to stiffen the throat up to and including its upper margin but not to lessen materially the stretchability of the top portion of the upper, said stiffener having a bevelled margin.

4. An article of footwear comprising a lined stretchable rubber upper of oxford height having in its throat portion between its outer surface and the lining a stiffener vertically extensive enough to prevent inward falling of the wall and laterally of such limited extent as to stiffen the throat but not to lessen materially the stretchability of the top portion of the upper, said stiffener extending to the margin of the throat.

LESLIE H. LHOILIER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,025,274. December 3, 1935.

LESLIE H. LHOLLIER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 28, claim 2, for "or" read of; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1956.

Henry Van Arsdale LSeal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

